Celebrate 7 years of Cleveland Owns at our Annual Celebration: Growing the Fruits of our Labor!
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Exploited Labor: News & Updates
Event
May 1, 2026
May Day March 2026
March for workers’ rights!
Stand up against ICE!
Friday, May 1, 4-6pm
Gather at Public Square (southwest quadrant in front of Terminal Tower)
Organizer: May Day Coalition-Cleveland. https://maydaycoalitionproject.substack.com/about
Event
April 22, 2026
How can members of a community take back control of the resources that shape their lives? Join us on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, 7:00-8:30pm ET, for a free webinar with co-op developer and community organizer Jonathan Welle to explore this question.
to register click here
Event
April 18, 2026
Join us for the screening of "Yanuni" with the Cleveland International Film Festival on april 17th at Playhouse Square
to purchase tickets for the creening click here
Promo Code: IRTF
$1 off any ticket, with the exception of Opening Night, 7x7 Retrospective and Day Pass purchases.
Event
April 17, 2026
Join us for the screening of "Yanuni" with the Cleveland International Film Festival on april 17th at Cedar Lee Theatre
to purchase tickets for the creening click here (ticket sale will start on march 18th)
Promo Code: IRTF
$1 off any ticket, with the exception of Opening Night, 7x7 Retrospective and Day Pass purchases.
$1 off any ticket, with the exception of Opening Night, 7x7 Retrospective and Day Pass purchases.
Event
April 11, 2026
IRTF initiated our annual Social Justice Teach-In (aka Liberation Lab) in 1999. This spring we feel a great need to call together justice-minded folks who are committed to human rights, liberation, and respect and dignity for all people.
Every year for the past 26 years, this event has been an informative and inter-generational day of community building and education for high school and college students and other community members seeking ways to take positive action for social justice.
To buy tickets or become a sponsor click here
Event
March 31, 2026
The Civil Disobedience + Resistance Training will provide historical grounding, practical skills and nonviolent discipline strategies anyone who wants help navigating the current landscape. Participants will leave the training with a deeper understanding of direct action, policy change and solidarity building strategies for sustaining long-term movements for justice.
to register click here
Event
March 20, 2026
Do you believe in fair, honest work? Do you like parties? So do we!
The Northeast Ohio Worker Center is hosting our third annual fundraiser!1
to purchase tickets click here
News Article
March 12, 2026
This Equal exchange article examines how Fair Trade profits are reinvested into bio-fertilizers to tackle disease and climate change conditions on co-op run farms in peru.
News Article
March 6, 2026
The history of bananas makes many people uncomfortable.
The industry is rooted in power imbalance. Whether it was tax-free land in Costa Rica (for United Fruit/Chiquita in 1884), forced labor by financing paramilitaries (2024 verdict for Colombian victims1), or chemicals like DBCP sold for use abroad even after having its production shut down in the U.S. for causing sterility2 (e.g. to Standard Fruit/Dole in Nicaragua3), there’s no shortage of examples of abuse of power and control.
This article by Equal Exchange gives insight into what is possible when farmers are granted land and form co-ops unraveling power dynamics .
